Stimulatory action of prostaglandin F2 alpha on androgen aromatization in the pig follicle.
Previous in vitro studies with pig tissues have demonstrated that follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) can stimulate follicular prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) production, and both FSH and PGF2 alpha can stimulate follicular estradiol production. The present study was designed firstly to confirm that in the pig, as in the rat, FSH increases estradiol production by stimulation of the aromatase enzyme system, and secondly to investigate the possibility that PGF2 alpha may play a role in the FSH stimulation of androgen aromatization. FSH increased the incorporation of [3H]testosterone into estradiol during a 3-h incubation of halved pig follicles or isolated granulosa cells by 85% compared to controls. PGF2 alpha increased the incorporation by 107%, whilst the two substances together caused an increase of 124%. Indometacin, an inhibitor of PG synthesis, reduced the incorporation of 21% of the control value, and completely inhibited the FSH stimulation. These results show that FSH stimulates the aromatase enzyme system of pig granulosa cells, and suggest that PGF2 alpha may play an obligatory role in androgen aromatization.
D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002260:Carboprost / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000494:pharmacology; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013552:Swine; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
D011458:Prostaglandins E; D011460:Prostaglandins F; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D002260:Carboprost; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D001141:Aromatase